Aeolian harp



C. KITCHING.

AEOLIAN HARP.

APPLICATION FILED A UG.2Z, ISIS.

je?? .I4

Patented June 3, 1919.

CYBUSY-KITCHING, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AEOLIAN HARP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 3, 1919.

Application led August 22, 1918. Serial No. 250,968.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CYRUs KITGHING, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Chica-go, Cook county, Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Aeolian Harps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement Y in aeolian harps-that is, an arrangement whereby a musical instrument is combined with a window ventilator in such a manner that as the air is admitted through the ventilator it causes theinstrument to produce musical sounds.

My invention is particularly adapted for use in connection with ventilators of the up-draft type*that is, ventilators which are placed at the bottom of the window and so constructed that when the window is open, the air is'directed upwardly into the room. By my invention a suitable musical instrument2 preferably a stringed instrument, is associated with the ventilator in such a way that as the air passes upwardly through the ventilator intotlie room, it passes transversely over the strings of the instrument, thus setting them into vibration and producing pleasing musical tones.

My invention will be more readily imderstood by having reference to the accompanying drawings,in which I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of an up- 'I draft ventilator, having a stringed instrument operatively associated therewith, in accorda-nce with my invention.

Fig. y2 is a cross-sectional view, showing the ventilator in an opened Window. Y

Fig. 3 is a partial plan view of the ventilator shown in Fig. 1.

I have illustrated my invention in connection with a window ventilator consisting of a box-shaped structure, composed of the bottom plate 10, top plate 11, and front wall 12. The rear of the structure is open, in order to admit the air from the outside of the window. Mounted between the upper and lower plates 10 and 11 are a pair of obliquely disposed deflector plates 13, which form in effect end kwalls for the air-receiving chamber of the ventilator. These walls are so inclined that they deflect the air inward to a position adjacent a slot 14 in the upper plate through which the air passes into the room. This form of ventilator, thus constructed, is placed in position in the window, after 'the same is opened, the bottom member 15 of the window-sash resting upon the rear portion of the upper plate 11 in rear of the slotted opening 14.

Mounted upon the top plate 11, and hinged thereto, is a suitable stringed musical instrument. This instrument consists of a hollow body member or sound-box 16 which is provided with rounded ends 17, the rear face being provided with a scroll-shaped opening 18. A plurality of strings 19, of different sizes, are strung across a pair of bridges 20 mounted on the rearface of thesound-box, suitable tuning keys 21 being provided for adjusting the tension on thel strings whereby their pitch may be varied. When this ventilator is placed in position in the window, the air, passing upward through the slotted opening 14, passes transversely over the strings 19 and sets the same in vibration. The vibrations of the strings vary, depending upon the velocity of the wind. Certain velocities of the wind will cause certain of the strings to vibrate to a greater extent than other strings, while an increased velocity of the wind will cause a different vibration of the strings, this depending upon the period of vibration of the strings, as that string whose period is more closely in synchronism with the vibration of the air, will be vibrated to a greater extent than will the other strings having a different period of vibration. Under certain conditions, the strings will be caused to vibrate so as to produ-ce over-tones, and at times these over-tones will predominate so that they are the only appreciable tones produced by the vibrating strings. In this manner this musical instrument is caused to produce a plurality of varying musical tones, depending upon the velocity of the air passing through the ventilator. These varying tones produce a very pleasing effect, and it is especially interesting to note the variations in tones produced by the instrument. If desired, the strings may be tuned to various minor or major chords by means of the tuning keys 21, and thus the combination of tones produced by the instrument varied. If at any time it is desired to use the ventilator without having the instrument operated, it can be swung out of operative position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, this a: nection between the instrument and ventilator.

It will thus be seen that I have devised a very useful and efiicient form of instrument, and while I have illustrated connection with a ventilator of a particular type, it will be understood'that the type of ventilator may be changed to a certainextent without departing from the spirit of my invention, although I prefer to employ a ventilator of the up-draft type, Likewise, the particular form of thestringed instrument may be varied, although the one shown gives very efficient results and is of such a shape as to be readily mounted upon the top of the ventilator.

IVhat I claim as my invention is p- 1. In combination, a vwindow ventilator comprising a body portion, an opening therein through which the air is admitted, and a musical instrument mounted on said body portion in operative relationship to. said opening and adapted to be operated by the air passing through said opening.

2. In combination, a window ventilator consisting of a body portion, an opening .in the top thereof for permitting the air to pass upward therethrough, a musical instrument mounted upon thel top of said ventilator and adjacent said opening, and strings on said instrument so located with respect to said opening that air passing through same passes transversely across said strings and thus sets said strings in vibration.

3. In combination, a window ventilator comprising a body portion having a narrow elongated opening in its upper surface, deflectors for directing the air toward and through said opening, a musical instrument mounted on top of said ventilator, and strings on said instrument mounted adjacent to said opening, whereby the air passing upward through said opening passes transversely across said strings to thereby set the same into vibration.

c the Copies of this Apatent may be obtained for the same in'V V,on the face of ve cents each, by addressingthe g 4i." Y In VVi'cornlunation, a window A ventilator coinprisiirg,- a box-shaped body portion having a narrow elongated opening in its upper surface,l defiectors for directing the air through said ventilator and upward through said opening, a musical instrument consistingv of an elongated sound-box mounted on topy of said ventilator, and strings/mounted said sound-box and adjacent said opening, whereby the air passing upward through the opening passes transversely over said strings to thereby set the same into vibration Y 5. In combination, a window ventilator comprising abody portion having a narrow elongated opening in its upper surface, deflectors for directing the air toward and throughsaid ventilator, a musical instrument mounted on top of said ventilator, and strings on said instrument mounted adjacent to said opening, whereby the air passing upward through vsaid opening passes transversely.acrosssaid strings to ,thereby set the same into vibration, said musical instrument being hinged to the top plateof moved away from saidopening to thereby render the musical instrument inoperative.

6. In combination, a window ventilator consisting of a body portion, an opening in the top thereof forrpermitting the air to pass upward therethrough, ajstrin-ged musical instrument mounted` upon the top of said ventilator and adjacent said opening, the strings on said instrument sovlocated with respect` tosaid opening that air passing through same passes transversely across said strings and thus causes the ysamelto vibrate, said musical instrument being hinged to the top plate of said ventilator whereby the strings may be moved away from saidopening to thereby render the musical instrument inoperative. Y

Signed by me at Chicago, Illinois, this 29 day of July, 1918. y l Y CYRS KITCHING.

Commissioner off Patents,`

Washington, D. C. 

